AN OVERVIEW OF BAGASSE GASIFICATION R&D ACTIVITIES AT SUGAR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

By P.A. HOBSON
Sugar Research and Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

Contact p.hobson@qut.edu.au

Abstract

Sugar Research and Innovation (SRI) has been involved for some years in developing aspects of bagasse gasification technology. This has been undertaken with the long-term aim of implementing advanced cycle, high efficiency power generation in the sugar industry or the production of a gaseous feedstock for alcohols and other industrial commodities.
Many of the R&D outcomes achieved at SRI in the area of gasification can be traced back to the formation in 1998 of the Queensland Biomass Integrated Gasification (QBIG) program. This program was set up to develop gasification for boosting power generation in the sugar industry. Under the QBIG program, major research projects were undertaken in the areas of bagasse and cane trash gasification kinetics, ash characteristics in bagasse gasifiers, the development of a continuous pressurised bagasse feeder, cane harvest residue recovery systems to improve gasifier utilisation and economies of scale as well as a financial appraisal of gasification for power generation. It became evident from this latter study that there was significant scope for reducing costs via a staged and highly factory integrated introduction of this technology, and a study was initiated to determine optimum strategies for the large scale adoption of gasification technology across the industry.
On a more fundamental level, SRI has been collaborating with Hokkaido and Monash universities in a project aimed at utilising the potassium that occurs naturally in biomass as a catalyst in cracking high molecular weight tars produced during gasification. This catalysed reforming process occurs at relatively low temperatures (500°C to 700°C) and has the potential to deliver significant gasifier cost and efficiency advantages. The role of SRI in this project has been to develop computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and process models with which to implement laboratory data in a thermodynamically optimised gasification cycle.
This paper draws together the R&D activities undertaken at SRI to provide a positive picture with respect to the technical feasibility of implementing gasification technology for power generation and highlights some of the financial barriers to the large scale adoption of the technology in Australia.

KEYWORDS: Bagasse, gasification, catalyst, ash, kinematics, co-generation
(ISSCT XXVIth CONGRESS Durban, South Africa 29th July - 2nd August 2007)
http://issct.intnet.mu/ComCop2007.htm